Baseball News: Juni 2012

Sabtu, 30 Juni 2012

Quick Hits: Thome, Blue Jays, Oliver, Orioles

« Dodgers, Astros Discussing Trade | Main | Dodgers To Sign Corey Seager »

Links as Friday turns into Saturday..

As the Phillies look for a place to move Jim Thome, the Rays and Yankees not interested, sources tell Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Olney speculates (Twitter link) that the Orioles and Rangers could be solid fits for the veteran.
Darren Oliver may be a name to watch for the 'Angels' if the 'Blue Jays' decide to be sellers at the deadline, tweets Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com.
The Orioles' have agreed in principle with three of their top seven picks, tweets Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. Second-round selection Branden Kline, Christian Walker (fourth), and Matthew Price (seven) all signed for their slot recommendation.

Dodgers, Astros Discussing Trade

« Mets Notes: Trades, Qualls, Lidge, Street | Main | Quick Hits: Thome, Blue Jays, Oliver, Orioles »

10:11pm: The Dodgers asked about Lowrie, but he's not in the current talks, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com. A source says that there's a 50-50 shot that Carlos Lee accepts a deal to Los Angeles for pitching prospects.

9:57pm: Dodgers'' talks with 'Astros' involve Carlos Lee, not Jed Lowrie, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Lee would need to a approve deal and has the right to block a deal to the Dodgers.

9:02pm: The Dodgers are talking to the Astros about a trade that would send Jed Lowrie to the Dodgers with minor-leaguers Zach Lee and Garrett Gould headed to Houston, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter). One source place the odds of the deal taking place at about 50-50 right now, Olney tweets.

Sources also say that others could be involved in the talks, according to Olney (via Twitter). Lowrie would provide the Dodgers with options at shortstop and third base to go along with a power bat. The 28-year-old has a .262/.350/.492 slash line with 14 homers in 68 games this year.

Lee, 20, was the Dodgers' first-round pick in 2010 and signed with the club over attending LSU on a football scholarship. The right-hander was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga earlier this week after turning in a 4.55 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 in 12 California League starts in 2012.

Gould, also a right-hander, was the club's second-round pick in '09 out of Wichita, Kansas. The soon-to-be 21-year-old has made 12 starts and three relief appearances in the California League this year, posting a 5.12 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9.

Dodgers To Sign Corey Seager

« Quick Hits: Thome, Blue Jays, Oliver, Orioles | Main

The Dodgers have reached an agreement with first round pick Corey Seager on a $2.35MM bonus, reports Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times. Slot money for the 18th overall pick was $1.95MM.

Seager, a high schooler infielder from North Carolina, is the younger brother of Mariners' third baseman Kyle Seager. Baseball America says he offers left-handed power and "it [is] easy to see his upside," though it's unclear if he will remain at shortstop long-term.

Nine first round picks and one supplemental first round pick remain unsigned. The deadline to sign this year's picks is July 13th.

Jumat, 29 Juni 2012

Rosenthal On Greinke, Hamels, Kershaw

« NL East Notes: Murphy, Capuano, Dickey, Fish, Phils | Main | Quick Hits: Wells, Attanasio, V-Mart, Mariners »

In the latest Hot Corner video, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal gives his take on three of baseball's top aces...

The likelihood of Zack Greinke being dealt "probably is growing," though the Brewers are still on the fringes on the NL Central race. Rosenthal doesn't think the Brewers will be able to afford re-signing Greinke this winter and their best-case scenario if they do trade him would be to bring back a big prospect, as the Mets did last summer when they acquired Zack Wheeler from the Giants in exchange for Carlos Beltran.
Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay won't be back until after the All-Star break and Chase Utley just made his season debut, so Rosenthal says the Phillies might "wait until the last minute, perhaps" to decide whether they'll be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino, both pending free agents, would be Philly's biggest trade chips if the team did decide to look ahead to 2013.
There is "no urgency" for the Dodgers to pursue a longer contract extension with Clayton Kershaw. The two sides already agreed to a two-year, $19MM deal in February and Kershaw isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2014 campaign. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said last month that the team wasn't going to negotiate a longer deal with Kershaw during the season. Rosenthal notes that while the Dodgers may re-open talks in the offseason, it can't hurt to exercise a bit more caution when locking up pitchers, noting that the Giants are probably thankful they didn't extend Tim Lincecum last winter given Lincecum's struggles.

Quick Hits: Wells, Attanasio, V-Mart, Mariners

« Rosenthal On Greinke, Hamels, Kershaw | Main | Diamondbacks Comfortable With Pitching Depth »

The Padres franchise is still looking for its first no-hitter, as Andrew Cashner's no-hit bid was ended after 6 1/3 innings tonight. It still ended up being a good night for San Diego, however, as the Friars rallied for a six-run ninth inning in their 7-3 win over the Astros.

Some notes from around the majors...

Vernon Wells tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that he has no plans to waive his no-trade clause since he enjoys playing for the Angels, though he may not receive much playing time once he returns from the DL. Morosi speculates that the right-handed hitting Wells could be a fit for the Dodgers, Reds or Indians. Any trade would involve the Angels eating the large majority of the approximately $53MM Wells is still owed through the 2014 season.
Brewers owner Mark Attanasio covered many topics during a Q&A with local business owners (reported on by Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), such as the team's payroll, the change in how the Brewers are perceived around baseball and how the team is having "an uncomfortable time" deciding whether or not they're contenders or sellers.
If Victor Martinez is able to play this season, it won't until mid-September at the earliest, Tigers head trainer Kevin Rand told reporters (including Chris Iott of Mlive.com). Martinez is recovering after tearing his ACL in January.
The Mariners aren't on pace to contend before Felix Hernandez's contract is up at the end of the 2014 season, argues Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, and should thus explore trading the ace right-hander.
With just a few days left before the July 2 international signing deadline, Ben Badler of Baseball America discusses some of the top prospects with various international scouting directors.
The Cardinals are looking for both starting and relief pitching, and Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch examines whch is a greater need for the club.
The Yankees announced that right-hander Adam Warren has been placed on the 25-man roster and signed to a Major League contract. In corresponding moves, Ryota Igarashi was also called up while C.C. Sabathia was placed on the 15-day DL and Andy Pettitte went on the 60-day DL. Warren, a fourth-round pick in the 2009 amateur draft, has a 3.05 ERA in 79 career minor league starts and he'll make his Major League debut on Friday in Sabathia's rotation spot.
The week's minor league transactions are recapped by Matt Eddy of Baseball America.

Diamondbacks Comfortable With Pitching Depth

« Quick Hits: Wells, Attanasio, V-Mart, Mariners | Main

Daniel Hudson will likely need Tommy John surgery, Joe Saunders remains on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, and Trevor Bauer has completed all of four innings at the MLB level, but the Diamondbacks say they aren't currently looking for pitching reinforcements.

"I think we feel like we've got enough depth," general manager Kevin Towers told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. "We actually considered even moving some of our depth. It's probably a good thing we didn't, for this very reason."

The Diamondbacks expect Saunders to return from the disabled list around the All-Star break and Towers noted that the left-hander is 'feeling great.' Saunders drew trade interest from the Orioles and other clubs earlier in the season.

Bauer, Ian Kennedy, Trevor Cahill, Wade Miley and Josh Collmenter currently round out Arizona's rotation. The group ranks fourth in MLB in walk rate (2.5 BB/9), ninth in FanGraphs' wins above replacement (7.5), 16th in strikeout rate (6.9 K/9), and 19th in ERA (4.21). Pitching prospects Tyler Skaggs and Patrick Corbin provide the Diamondbacks with some minor league alternatives.

Kamis, 28 Juni 2012

Outrighted To Triple-A: Travis Buck

« Cubs, White Sox Both Pursuing Yasel Puig | Main

We'll track the latest outright assignments right here...

The Astros outrighted Travis Buck to Triple-A Oklahoma City, according to the team's website. Houston designated Buck for assignment two days ago to create roster space for infielder Scott Moore. Buck, 28, had been sidelined since late May because of a heel injury. He has a .216/.284/.311 batting line in 81 plate appearances this year.

Minor Moves: Yankees, Angels, Guzman, Bogaerts

« Quick Hits: Dodgers, LaHair, Wedge, K-Rod | Main | Cubs, White Sox Both Pursuing Yasel Puig »

Today's minor moves..

The Yankees released Double-A right-hander Adam Miller, tweets Josh Norris of The Trentonian. Miller was ranked as Baseball America's #16 prospect after the 2004 season.
Right-hander Ysmael Carmona was released by the Angels, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (via Twitter). Carmona made the club's 40-man roster after the 2010 season but has struggled with shoulder issues ever since.
The Reds released Double-A first baseman Joel Guzman, Eddy tweets. The 27-year-old last appeared in the majors with the Rays in 2007.
The Cubs cut first baseman Jair Bogaerts, the twin brother of Red Sox prospect Xander Bogaerts, according to Eddy (via Twitter). Bogaerts came to Chicago as a throw-in in the Theo Epstein compensation trade.
The Indians released outfielder Ben Copeland, tweets Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus. The fourth-round pick in 2005 was a former member of the Giants farm system.
The Pirates have traded minor league right-hander Shairon Martis to the Twins, tweets Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Biertempfel also tweets that the two sides have yet to work out what the Pittsburgh will receive in return. Martis, 25, has a 4.96 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 15 appearances in Double-A and Triple-A. The hurler also appeared in 20 games for the Nationals in 2008 and 2009.

Cubs, White Sox Both Pursuing Yasel Puig

« Minor Moves: Yankees, Angels, Guzman, Bogaerts | Main | Outrighted To Triple-A: Travis Buck »

Count the Cubs and White Sox among the teams who are interested in signing Cuban outfielder Yasel Puig, reports Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune. Both franchises have extensive experience with players hailing from Cuba.

The 21-year-old was officially declared a free agent on Tuesday and now has until July 2 to sign with a team to avoid new financial limitations put in place for international players. For the Cubs, signing international free agents out of Cuba is nothing new as the team recently agreed to terms with outfielder Jorge Soler on a nine-year, $30MM deal. On the South Side, the White Sox have a long-term relationship with Puig's agent, Jaime Torres, who has negotiated deals with the team in the past for players such as Jose Contreras and Alexei Ramirez.

Rabu, 27 Juni 2012

Quick Hits: Moyer, Blue Jays, Sellers

« Yasel Puig Declared Free Agent | Main

Here's a hodgepodge of links as Tuesday turns into Wednesday ...

Jamie Moyer's minor league contract with the Blue Jays is for two Triple-A starts, at which point the club must decide whether to promote the left-hander, tweets Shi Davidi of sportsnet.ca.
Despite the recent rash of injuries among the Jays' starters, GM Alex Anthopoulos won't rush to acquire pitching help, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com. Anthopoulos said the soonest a big move might happen would be mid-July, if at all.
There are four teams that will obviously be in sell mode as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches, writes Ken Davidoff of the New York Post: the Mariners, Padres, Cubs and Astros. San Diego and Chicago, in particular, figure to be the most active.
The Braves and Nationals were recently scouting at a Twins game, tweets Phil Mackey of ESPN's 1500 Twin Cities radio. Atlanta was there to see Francisco Liriano, while Washington was likely keeping tabs on center fielder Denard Span.
Hall of Famer Frank Robinson has been named MLB's Executive Vice President of Baseball Development, tweets Amanda Comak of the Washington Post.
Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca asked to be reassigned and has been made a special assistant to GM Dan O'Down, writes Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Apodaca has been with the Rox since 2002.
The Dodgers have hired Mickey Hatcher as a special assistant to GM Ned Colletti, the club announced. Hatcher began the season as hitting coach for the Angels but was let go when the Halos were struggling offensively.

Omar Vizquel To Retire After Season

« Quick Hits: Moyer, Blue Jays, Sellers | Main

After stating last month that he is "51 percent" sure that he will retire, Blue Jays shortstop Omar Vizquel now seems certain that he will call it a career after the 2012 season. The 45-year-old told Didier Morais of NESN.com that he hopes to stay connected to the game after his playing days are through.

"This will be my last year," Vizquel said in Spanish. "I've enjoyed this game a lot, but I think it's time to pursue a new career as a coach or manager, and hopefully I'll get that opportunity in the future."

This season will be the finale of Vizquel's 24-year career, during which he earned eleven Gold Gloves and three All-Star nods. The shortstop spent time with the Mariners, Indians, Giants, Rangers, and White Sox throughout his career, including two World Series appearances with Cleveland. Baseball-Reference estimates that he has earned roughly $62.5MM dating back to his 1989 rookie season.

Yasel Puig Declared Free Agent

« Central Links: Liriano, Carpenter, Hernandez | Main | Quick Hits: Moyer, Blue Jays, Sellers »

Cuban outfielder Yasel Puig has officially been declared a free agent, sources tell Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, and could have a deal finalized with a Major League team by Friday.

Puig can now meet with teams to discuss parameters of deals but cannot finalize a contract until he is unblocked by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, Sanchez reports. That is not expected to be an issue, though, "in accordance with the new guidelines that create a general license authorizing Major League teams to do business" with a Cuban prospect who has established residency somewhere else.

The 20-year-old has been working to establish free agency so as to beat the new collective bargaining agreement's July 2 deadline, which stipulates that teams may only sign international prospects for up to $2.9MM without penalty after that date. Puig is thought to be seeking a contract similar to the ones signed by Yoenis Cespedes with the A's and Jorge Soler with the Cubs.

Selasa, 26 Juni 2012

NL Central Links: Rizzo, LaHair, Brewers, Astros

« Yasel Puig Targeting Free Agency | Main | Quick Hits: Byrd, Royals, Youk, Padres Sale »

The Reds paid a hefty price to acquire Mat Latos from the Padres this offseason, sending Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, Brad Boxberger, and Edinson Volquez to San Diego in exchange for the young ace. Latos has been largely disappointing, but turned in his best start of the season tonight, striking out a career-high 13 in a one-run complete game effort. Here are some more links related to the division...

The Cubs officially called up Anthony Rizzo, the team announced, and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets that they now view Bryan LaHair as an outfielder. The Cubs, however, would be willing to move LaHair for "the right offer," according to Morosi (Twitter link).
The Brewers may be one good week away from contention, but the club could always be one bad week away from selling, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Zack Greinke, Francisco Rodriguez, Shaun Marcum, and George Kottaras would all appeal to other clubs, to varying degrees. Milwaukee's farm system has been depleted by trades for Greinke, Marcum, and C.C. Sabathia and could stand to be replenished, opines Rosenthal. He's careful to note that this could be a dicey PR move, as Milwaukee could surpass 3MM fans on the season and selling would send a bad message.
Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle details the Astros' draft strategy and how it led to the signing of Rio Ruiz for a bonus that was leaps and bounds above slot ($1.85MM). General manager Jeff Luhnow tells Levine that he considers Ruiz, Carlos Correa (No. 1 overall) and Lance McCullers Jr. (No. 41 overall) all to be first round talents.

Quick Hits: Byrd, Royals, Youk, Padres Sale

« NL Central Links: Rizzo, LaHair, Brewers, Astros | Main | Blue Jays Sign Jamie Moyer To Minor League Deal »

Marlon Byrd was suspended for 50 games today after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, according to MLB's official PR department (on Twitter). Byrd issued the following statement:

'I made an inexcusable mistake. Several years ago, I had surgery for a condition that was private and unrelated to baseball. Last winter, I suffered a recurrence of that condition and I was provided with a medication that resulted in my positive test. Although that medication is on the banned list, I absolutely did not use it for performance enhancement reasons. I am mortified by my carelessness and I apologize to everyone who loves this game as I do. I will serve my suspension, continue to work hard and hope that I am given an opportunity to help a Club win later this season.'

Here are some additional links for your Monday evening...

Royals general manager Dayton Moore told Jon Heyman of CBS Sports that he has received zero calls on Jeff Francoeur, Bruce Chen, and Jonathan Broxton (Twitter link).
Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com tweets that the reason the Red Sox didn't get more for Kevin Youkilis is because some offers from interested parties simply stated that they would take Youkilis "for nothing," if the Sox were willing to pick up the entire contract.
The imminent sale of the Padres could have a positive impact on the Mariners, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. The sale price is said to be $800MM -- $600MM for the Padres and $200MM for a stake in their upcoming $1.2 billion TV deal with FOX. The Mariners can opt out of their current TV deal in 2015, and could be sitting on top of a "financial windfall," writes Baker. He writes that Mariners "should be able to get more in any pending sale if everything remains equal."
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports writes that yesterday's Youkilis trade has kicked off the trade season, and runs through some big names that could be trade candidates at this year's deadline.

Blue Jays Sign Jamie Moyer To Minor League Deal

« Quick Hits: Byrd, Royals, Youk, Padres Sale | Main

The Blue Jays have signed Jamie Moyer to a minor league contract, reports Shannon Drayer of ESPN Radio Seattle (Twitter link). The 49-year-old starter will head to Triple-A Las Vegas this week.

Moyer is joining the ninth team of his 25-year career and his third in a month. Moyer began the season on a minor league pact with the Rockies and was released after posting a 5.70 ERA in 10 starts for the team. The southpaw then signed a minor league deal with the Orioles but asked to be released last weekend, as was his option after not being called up to the Major League roster. Moyer had a 1.69 ERA and 16 strikeouts with no walks in three starts (16 innings) for Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate.

Though the Jays have made Moyer "no promises" outside of a few Triple-A outings (according to Rogers Sportnet's Shi Davidi), Moyer has a good chance at a callup simply due to the raft of injuries suffered by Toronto starters over the last two weeks. Brandon Morrow, Drew Hutchison and Kyle Drabek are all on the DL, and Henderson Alvarez left Monday's start with soreness in his throwing elbow.

Senin, 25 Juni 2012

Mets Designate Vinny Rottino For Assignment

« Quick Hits: Rizzo, Bauer, Mets, Lillibridge | Main

The Mets have designated Vinny Rottino for assignment, the team announced (on Twitter). The move creates room on the roster for left-handed reliever Justin Hampson.

Rottino, 32, hit .182/.308/.394 in 39 plate appearances this season. He did his best work against left-handers (.200/.355/.480) and played first, third, and left field. The 32-year-old Hampson has not appeared in the big leagues since 2008 and owns a 3.38 ERA in 96 relief innnigs.

Week In Review: 6/17/12 - 6/23/12

« Kevin Youkilis Trade Reactions | Main | Quick Hits: Rizzo, Bauer, Mets, Lillibridge »

In case you missed it the first time around, here's a look back at the week that was here on MLBTR...

The Twins signed supplemental first round pick Luke Bard for $1.227MM. Bard, a right-hander out of Georgia Tech, was the 42nd overall pick earlier this month and is the brother of Red Sox right-hander Daniel Bard.
With the arrival of Roy Oswalt from Triple-A, the Rangers designated Mark Hamburger for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for the right-hander.
The Rays designated infielder Drew Sutton for assignment. Sutton, 28, posted a .271/.314/.354 batting line in 51 plate appearances for Tampa Bay this year.
The Brewers designated infielder Edwin Maysonet and left-hander Juan Perez for assignment. One of the roster spots will be used for Livan Hernandez, who has officially joined the team after being released by the Braves.
After reinstating Kosuke Fukudome from the 15-day disabled list, the White Sox designated the outfielder for assignment. The 35-year-old appeared in 24 games for Chicago and posted a .171/.294/.195 batting line in 51 plate appearances while playing all three outfield positions.
The Braves signed reliever D.J. Carrasco to a minor league deal. The Mets released the 35-year-old right-hander in late May after he allowed six hits, including two home runs, in 3 2/3 innings.
The Blue Jays acquired minor league right-hander Sean O'Sullivan from the Royals for cash considerations. O'Sullivan, 24, has a 6.75 ERA with 4.4 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 53 1/3 innings at Triple-A this season.
Supplementary first round draft choice Lance McCullers signed with the Astros and will receive a $2.5MM bonus.
The Rays claimed Brooks Conrad off of waivers from the Brewers, who designated the infielder for assignment earlier in the week. Conrad, 32, has appeared in 25 games for Milwaukee this year, playing all four infield positions.
Jamie Moyer asked for and received his release from the Orioles after it became clear Baltimore had no plans to promote the veteran to the big leagues anytime soon.
The Yankees signed Cuban left-hander Omar Luis Rodriguez to a minor league contract worth $4MM.
After being designated for assignment by the Angels, David Pauley finds himself heading north of the border after being claimed by the Blue Jays.
The Rangers released Brad Hawpe from Double-A Frisco at the veteran's request. Hawpe, 33, posted a .260/.382/.382 line in 152 PAs while with the Rangers' minor league affiliate.
Supplementary first-round pick Matt Olson signed with the A's and will obtain a bonus just over $1MM.
The Rangers signed right-hander Willie Eyre to a minor league deal.
Catcher Koyie Hill is headed to Triple-A Syracuse after signing a minor league deal with the Nationals. Hill elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Cubs and outrighted to Triple-A.
The Nationals designated Brad Lidge for assignment. The right-hander appeared in just 9.1 innings this year, allowing ten runs with ten strikeouts and 11 walks.
The Blue Jays signed right-hander Shawn Hill to a minor league contract. The 31-year-old Hill has a 4.74 ERA, 5.7 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and 48.9% groundball rate in 239 big league innings.
First round draft pick Deven Marrero signed with the Red Sox and will obtain a $2.05MM bonus.
The Tigers released Brad Eldred from their Triple-A roster as he has elected to sign with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
The Royals designated Roman Colon for assignment. Colon, 32, allowed six runs on 12 hits in eight innings for Kansas City.

Quick Hits: Rizzo, Bauer, Mets, Lillibridge

« Week In Review: 6/17/12 - 6/23/12 | Main | Mets Designate Vinny Rottino For Assignment »

R.A. Dickey's streak of not allowing an earned run came to an end during the third inning of Sunday night's game against the Yankees. With 44 2/3 innings of earned run-free baseball, Dickey's performance pales in comparison to Orel Hershiser's record 59 consecutive innings of scoreless baseball set in 1988 while with the Dodgers. What makes Hershiser's feat even more impressive is that he actually continued the streak into the playoffs as he threw eight more run-free innings to give him 67 in total. Here's the latest news from around the league...

Anthony Rizzo is expected to make his Cubs debut this Tuesday against the Mets at Wrigley Field, writes David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com. The franchise's top prospect has mastered the art of hitting Triple-A pitching as he's currently the owner of a .349/.410/.710 batting line.
Trevor Bauer, the third pick in the 2011 amateur draft, will make his Major League debut for the Diamondbacks on Thursday after enjoying extensive success at the minor league level, according to Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com. The right-hander has a 2.79 ERA, 10.9 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 at Triple-A this season.
The Mets are in desperate need of bullpen help, but will probably have to wait until after the All-Star break to make a move as there are currently very few sellers, tweets ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
Utility man Brent Lillibridge tweets his gratitude to the White Sox organization and his love for the city of Chicago as he looks forward to the next chapter of his career with the Red Sox. Lillibridge, 28, is headed to Boston after being traded with Zach Stewart in exchange for Kevin Youkilis and cash earlier on Sunday.

Minggu, 24 Juni 2012

Rosenthal On Greinke, Youkilis, Podsednik, Giants

« Kevin Youkilis Rumors: Saturday | Main | Kevin Youkilis Rumors: Sunday »

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has his latest edition of Full Count up. Let's dive in..

It's still too early to know if Zack Greinke will still be a member of the Brewers after the trade deadline. The club expects Shaun Marcum back as soon as next weekend and Jonathan Lucroy back after the All-Star break. The Brewers feel that they're obligated to listen on offers for all players but at the same time don't need to be the aggressors just yet.
The Indians appear to be on the periphery of the Kevin Youkilis sweepstakes but still aren't certain if they want to squander their limited resources on a player who is far from a sure thing. While Johnny Damon is hitting much better as of late, their biggest needs are in leftfield and in the starting rotation.
The Red Sox will face interesting positions once all four of their left-handed hitting outfielders are back in action. Things could get interesting with Scott Podsednik, who could be a trade candidate if Daniel Nava is still hot. The Reds are one team that could be in the mix as they seek a leadoff hitter.
The Giants would like to add to their offense but some of their people aren't sure if it's worth compromising their defense. The obvious position to upgrade is second base but Ryan Theriot has hit better as of late.

Kevin Youkilis Rumors: Sunday

« Rosenthal On Greinke, Youkilis, Podsednik, Giants | Main

The trade chatter surrounding Kevin Youkilis picked up a ton of steam yesterday as the White Sox, Pirates, Indians, and Dodgers all seem to have interest in the third baseman. As of late last night, it appeared that the White Sox were the frontrunner for the veteran with Pittsburgh in second. Here's the latest on Youkilis with the most recent news up top..

The White Sox's pursuit of Youkilis is more advanced than any other club's and could be approaching the final stages, a major league source tells Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Sources say Boston is willing to include about $5MM of the nearly $8MM remaining on Youkilis' contract in the trade. As of late last night, the Indians appeared to be a 'longshot,' the Dodgers' talks were minimal, and the Pirates pulled out of the discussions, according to sources.

Sabtu, 23 Juni 2012

Kevin Youkilis Rumors: Saturday

« Padres Ownership Deal Imminent | Main

Yesterday we learned that the White Sox may be best positioned to swing a trade for Kevin Youkilis, who is losing playing time to rookie Will Middlebrooks. The Braves have scouted him in recent weeks though the Pirates are said to have little interest. Here are today's Youkilis rumors, with the latest up top...

The Red Sox are speaking with multiple clubs and continue to move closer to a deal, reports Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The ChiSox have engaged in "heavy dialogue" with Boston but the Dodgers remain in the mix as well. The Sox prefer to trade Youkilis to an NL club.

The Latest On Kevin Youkilis

« Blue Jays Notes: Rentals, Payroll, Stroman, DeJong | Main | Padres Ownership Deal Imminent »

Yesterday we learned that the Red Sox have "stepped up their efforts" to trade Kevin Youkilis, who is losing playing time to Will Middlebrooks. After the rookie went 3-for-4 with a homer in last night's game, manager Bobby Valentine told Youkilis that he'll be sitting for a while according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). Here's the latest on the Greek God of Walks...

A handful of teams are involved in the bidding according to Olney (Twitter link), but one official believes the White Sox are best positioned to swing a deal. It appears as though the Pirates have little interest in Youkilis according to ESPN Boston.
ESPN's Buster Olney hears that teams believe Youkilis could be traded at any time, but the feeling is that Boston is just working to get the best offer (Twitter link).
The Braves scouted Kevin Youkilis last week, Cafardo tweets. In fact, the Braves scouted him multiple times this past week, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter).

Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.

Padres Ownership Deal Imminent

« The Latest On Kevin Youkilis | Main | Kevin Youkilis Rumors: Saturday »

An agreement for the sale of the Padres is imminent, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The club is believe to be the O'Malley family's to lose, though Gary Jabara remains in the mix.

Earlier tonight, Scott Miller of CBSSports.com reported that the bidding was down to those two principal groups. Although a deal could be reached soon, he says the earliest ownership would likely be transferred is during the owners' meetings in August. The sale price is expected to approach $800MM.

Jumat, 22 Juni 2012

Minor Moves: Mills, Carrasco, Ambriz

« Quick Hits: Lee, Pirates, Ortiz, A's, Royals | Main | Draftstreet Baseball Championship (Sponsored Post) »

The latest minor moves..

The Indians traded first baseman Beau Mills to the Reds for cash considerations, tweets Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer. The former first-round pick has been assigned to Double-A Pensacola.
The Braves signed reliever D.J. Carrasco to a minor league deal. The Mets, who are responsible for the majority of Carrasco's $1.2MM salary, released the 35-year-old in late May after he allowed six hits, including two home runs, in 3 2/3 innings, according to the CBSSports.com transactions page.
The Astros signed right-hander Hector Ambriz to a minor league deal. The Indians released Ambriz this past Sunday after he posted a 3.55 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9 in 33 Triple-A innings, according to CBSSports.com.

Draftstreet Baseball Championship (Sponsored Post)

« Minor Moves: Mills, Carrasco, Ambriz | Main | Tigers Notes: Martinez, Porcello, Turner, Castellanos »

An MLBTR reader now has a shot at $200,000 in cash prizes! On Wednesday, we had a freeroll with DraftStreet.com where the winner received a free spot in Friday's $109 qualifier league. Congrats to "thatteamfromcle," who took home first place and now has a shot to win a seat in the Draftstreet Baseball Championship Main event. He lived up to his username by taking Indians players such as Justin Masterson and Lonnie Chisenhall.

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Tigers Notes: Martinez, Porcello, Turner, Castellanos

« Draftstreet Baseball Championship (Sponsored Post) | Main

The 34-35 Tigers trail the AL Central-leading Indians by 2.5 games, but owner Mike Ilitch remains confident in the people running his team, Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press reports. 'I know we've got the right foundation,' Ilitch said, 'the right people in place.' Here are more notes on the Tigers from Sharp...

Ilitch expects the Tigers to enjoy a boost in offense and leadership if Victor Martinez returns this season. 'He was really our leader, and he's starting to come around again,' Ilitch said.
Sharp wonders if the Tigers would consider trading Rick Porcello for a veteran starter or a right-handed bat with power. GM Dave Dombrowski could make Porcello available now or in the offseason if Jacob Turner is ready for a full-time starting role in 2013. Porcello, 23, has a 4.95 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 80 innings this year and will remain under team control through 2014.
Turner, Nick Castellanos and Avisail Garcia are as close to untouchable as minor league prospects get, Sharp writes.

Kamis, 21 Juni 2012

Draft Signings: Diaz, Blach, Cubs, Red Sox

« Blue Jays Remain In "Buy" Mode | Main | Quick Hits: Drew, Bundy, Machado, Blue Jays »

Here are the latest mid-to-late round draft signings...

The Mariners have signed third rounder Edwin Diaz for $300K reports ESPN's Kiley McDaniel (via Keith Law on Twitter). The right-hander was slotted for a $186K bonus.
The Giants have signed fifth rounder Ty Blach for a straight slot $225K, reports Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter).
MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports that the Cubs have signed fifth rounder Anthony Prieto ($200K), 10th rounder Chad Martin ($10K), 13th rounder Bijan Rademacher, 16th rounder Michael Hamann ($100K), and 22nd rounder Eduardo Orozco ($1K). Chicago has signed 21 picks so far.
The Red Sox have signed sixth rounder Justin Haley and 19th rounder Iseha Conklin according to WEEI.com's Alex Speier (on Twitter). Haley's slot number was approximately $164K.

Quick Hits: Drew, Bundy, Machado, Blue Jays

« Draft Signings: Diaz, Blach, Cubs, Red Sox | Main | Red Sox Expected To Sign Brian Johnson »

Here are some links from around the league as Wednesday turns into Thursday...

Scott Boras told reporters (including WEEI.com's Rob Bradford) that a "couple of teams" have inquired about J.D. Drew during the season. "I've got no indication from him a desire to return," said Boras of the outfielder, who has been at home. "But then again I haven't addressed the issue with him, if he's done anything formally."
Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports (on Twitter) that clubs keep asking the Orioles for top prospects Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado in trade talks. Needless to say, those two are as close to untouchable as it gets.
The Blue Jays promoted Andrew Tinnish to assistant GM, reports Bob Elliott of The Toronto Sun (on Twitter). Tinnish had been the team's amateur scouting director.

Red Sox Expected To Sign Brian Johnson

« Quick Hits: Drew, Bundy, Machado, Blue Jays | Main

The Red Sox are expected to sign first rounder Brian Johnson by the weekend, Evan Drellich and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com report. The University of Florida left-hander is expected to obtain a bonus of $1.575MM, which is precisely what MLB recommends for the 31st overall selection.

Johnson's college team has been knocked out of the College World Series, so he should be coming to Boston for a physical soon. The Red Sox obtained the 31st overall selection from the Phillies as compensation for losing closer Jonathan Papelbon via free agency. They obtained a second selection for losing Papelbon -- the 37th overall pick -- and used it to sign right-hander Pat Light.

Rabu, 20 Juni 2012

Rockies Sign Jason Bergmann

« Quick Hits: Galvis, ChiSox, Marlins, Soriano, Dodgers | Main

We'll keep track of the latest minor moves right here...

The Rockies signed free agent right-hander Jason Bergmann, according to the team's website. Bergmann, 30, had been pitching for the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League before signing with the Rockies, who are in need of pitching depth. He has a career ERA of 5.04 with 6.9 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in six seasons with the Nationals, most recently in 2010.

Brewers Notes: Greinke, Marcum, Lawrie

« Braves Links: Beachy, Jurrjens, Garza, Youkilis | Main | Quick Hits: Galvis, ChiSox, Marlins, Soriano, Dodgers »

As the Brewers and Blue Jays engage in a slugfest, here's the latest from Miller Park...

Brewers officials are telling other clubs that owner Mark Attanasio will be the one who ultimately decides if his team will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, reports CBS Sports' Danny Knobler. Of the Brewers' possible trade chips, Zack Greinke is seen as the least likely to be dealt. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that the Brewers could like to keep Greinke and they feel they wouldn't get full value for the ace "as a two-month rental" before Greinke hits free agency. (Both links go to Twitter)
Also from Haudricourt, he looked back at the Brett Lawrie/Shaun Marcum trade as the Jays are in Milwaukee for an interleague series. Though Marcum may leave after this season as a free agent, Brewers GM Doug Melvin said he doesn't regret giving up a potential long-term star for a short-term gain of a playoff appearance. "We needed to get a pitcher of Shaun's caliber. He's done a great job for us," Melvin said. "You make trades and move on. You can't look back on them. Otherwise, you'll never make a trade."

Quick Hits: Galvis, ChiSox, Marlins, Soriano, Dodgers

« Brewers Notes: Greinke, Marcum, Lawrie | Main | Rockies Sign Jason Bergmann »

Ichiro Suzuki recorded his 2500th career hit tonight, leading off the game with a single to center field. Only Al Simmons, Ty Cobb and George Sisler reached the 2500-hit milestone in fewer games than Ichiro's 1817 MLB games. Of course, Ichiro started his Major League career at a much later age than any of those Hall-of-Famers, as he had already racked up 1278 hits in Japan before joining the Mariners in 2001.

Here's the latest from around the majors....

Phillies infielder Freddy Galvis has been suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball due to a positive PED test, according to a statement from the league. Galvis is currently injured and will able to serve his suspension while on the DL, which FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi describes as "a loophole that wasn't closed in the new [collective bargaining agreement]."
White Sox GM Kenny Williams told reporters (including Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago) that his team's low attendance could make it more difficult for the Sox to make acquisitions at the trade deadline.
The Marlins are actively looking for outfielders, writes MLB.com's Joe Frisaro as part of a reader mailbag. Frisaro speculates that Denard Span, Peter Bourjos or Carlos Lee could fit the Marlins' needs.
''It goes both ways because I don't want to be miserable,'' Alfonso Soriano tells Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times about a possible trade from the Cubs. Soriano wants to remain in Chicago but, ''I don't want to have a long summer or a long season. I just want to win, no matter what. If it's here, I'm more than happy. If it's not here, if they think they want to take longer than two or three years, then my contract's done....But it has to be a very good team to go to because I don't want to go be miserable on the other team, too.''
With the Dodgers expected to big players at the trade deadline, Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times warns that the team shouldn't feel obligated to make a move just to answer the pressure.
Ned Colletti tells Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times that the Dodgers are looking for a starting pitcher, a hitter and a left-handed reliever. Trades have been hard to come by, however, as Colletti says teams have so far only been willing to discuss moving pending free agents. The second wild card has also improved several teams' chances of contending, so there are fewer obvious sellers.
The Pirates have been similarly stifled in their trade attempts, as they've been discussing moves for the last six weeks, writes Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We've been told by some clubs that they're going to hold on as long as they can to sell tickets and try to keep their fans engaged, so that may take an obvious seller off the market," said GM Neal Huntington.
Diamondbacks rookie Wade Miley shut down the Mariners on Monday, but Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that in 2010, the two teams discussed a trade that would've sent Miley to Seattle in exchange for David Aardsma.

Selasa, 19 Juni 2012

Quick Hits: Padres, Phillies, Drabek, Vlad

« Blue Jays Sign Matt Smoral | Main | Braves Release Livan Hernandez »

Teams interested in acquiring starting pitching help surely noticed when the Cubs placed right-hander Ryan Dempster on the disabled list with right lat tightness today. Dempster, 35, is one of the top starters known to be available in trades. Here are today's links...

A quick sale of the Padres may not be possible at this point, writes Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times. The three apparent finalists are all leading bid groups with multiple investors, which will require extensive background work once a sale is announced.
Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com examines the trade stock of some of the Phillies biggest names in the event that their slide continues into late July.
Blue Jays righty Kyle Drabek is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow, tweets Barry Davis of Sportsnet.ca. This will be the second time Drabek has been through Tommy John.
Free agent designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero isn't close to signing, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).
There's no indication the Tigers are interested in Jim Thome, John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press reports. Thome, a "longtime tormentor" of the Tigers, bats left-handed, which means he's not a perfect fit in Detroit. The Tigers are interested in acquiring a bat before the July 31st trade deadline and they'd prefer to add a right-handed hitter, Morosi reported yesterday.
GM Brian Cashman told Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio that the Yankees haven't pursued contract extensions for Robinson Cano or Curtis Granderson, but aim to keep both players long-term (Twitter link).
Maury Brown explains that TV deals are boosting franchise values across MLB in a piece at Baseball Prospectus.

Blue Jays Sign Matt Smoral

« Red Sox Intensify Efforts To Trade Youkilis | Main | Quick Hits: Padres, Phillies, Drabek, Vlad »

9:07pm: Baseball America's Jim Callis tweets that Smoral's deal is worth exactly $2MM.

JUNE 18, 8:52pm: Smoral has officially signed with the Blue Jays, according to Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star (on Twitter).

JUNE 13: Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos says that negotiations between the club and Smoral are ongoing, writes John Lott of the National Post.

JUNE 6TH, 5:50pm: Smoral's deal is worth roughly $2MM, according to Keith Law of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

3:41pm: The Blue Jays have agreed to terms with supplementary first round selection Matt Smoral, Peter Gammons of MLB Network reports (on Twitter). Smoral appeared to have confirmed the news on his personal Twitter account.

The Blue Jays selected the high school left-hander with the 50th overall selection on Monday as compensation for losing reliever Frank Francisco to the Mets. The recommended bonus for the 50th overall selection is $1MM, according to Baseball America.

Braves Release Livan Hernandez

« Quick Hits: Padres, Phillies, Drabek, Vlad | Main

The Braves released veteran right-hander Livan Hernandez, according to the team's website. Hernandez, who was designated for assignment last week, has said he intends to continue playing.

The Braves removed the 37-year-old from their roster on Friday after calling other teams about possible trade scenarios. Hernandez signed a Major League deal with the Braves in March, not long after the Astros released him. The Praver/Shapiro client posted a 4.94 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 31 innings out of the bullpen for Atlanta.

Senin, 18 Juni 2012

Sherman On Dempster, Lee, Gonzalez

« Rockies, Blue Jays Discussed Guthrie Deal | Main

MLB executives expect the additional Wild Card teams to slow the trade market this summer, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. The Cubs and a few other teams such as the Athletics, Astros and Padres are willing to sell now, but most clubs still hope to contend this summer. Here are some notes from Sherman on the trade market:

No clear difference makers appear to be available right now, Sherman reports. People are generally waiting to see if the Brewers or Phillies decide to trade established stars for controllable talent.
A Yankees official told Sherman that Ryan Dempster would just 'muddy the water' in New York, an indication that the Yankees aren't overly interested in the Cubs right-hander.
Though there's no indication that Cliff Lee and Carlos Gonzalez are available, Sherman makes the case that their respective clubs should consider trades for them this summer. Lee, who has a nine-team no-trade list, would appeal to a number of contenders, and Gonzalez would draw considerable interest in a trade market that currently features few impact hitters.
Sherman points out that people in the industry see California native Cole Hamels heading toward a big payday from the Dodgers after the season when he hits free agency.

First And Supplemental Round Picks Yet To Sign

« Cardinals Sign Wisdom, Bean | Main | Rockies, Blue Jays Discussed Guthrie Deal »

With myriad players currently in search of a College World Series title or holding out for an over-slot bonus, here are the first round and supplemental round draft picks who have yet to agree to terms:

3. Seattle Mariners - Mike Zunino, C, Florida

4. Baltimore Orioles - Kevin Gausman, RHP, Louisiana State

6. Chicago Cubs - Albert Almora, Mater Academy (Fla.)

8. Pittsburgh Pirates - Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

9. Miami Marlins - Andrew Heaney, LHP, Oklahoma State

16. Washington Nationals - Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard-Westlake High School (Calif.)

18. Los Angeles Dodgers - Corey Seager, SS, Northwest Cabarrus High School (N.C.)

22. Toronto Blue Jays - Marcus Stroman, RHP, Duke

23. St. Louis Cardinals - James Ramsey, OF, Florida State

25. Tampa Bay Rays - Richie Shaffer, 1B/3B, Clemson

30. New York Yankees - Ty Hensley, RHP, Santa Fe High School (Okla.)

31. Boston Red Sox - Brian Johnson, LHP, Florida

42. Minnesota Twins (for Jason Kubel) - Luke Bard, RHP, Georgia Tech

44. San Diego Padres (for Aaron Harang) - Travis Jankowski, OF, Stony Brook

47. Oakland Athletics (for David DeJesus) - Matt Olson, 1B, Parkview High School (Ga.)

55. San Diego Padres (for Brett Austin) - Walker Weickel, RHP, Olympia High School (Fla.)

57. Cincinnati Reds (for Francisco Cordero) - Jeff Gelalich, OF, UCLA

Rockies, Blue Jays Discussed Guthrie Deal

« First And Supplemental Round Picks Yet To Sign | Main | Sherman On Dempster, Lee, Gonzalez »

MONDAY: The Rockies are looking to move Guthrie's salary for one prospect, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports (on Twitter). Renck confirms that the Rockies and Blue Jays have discussed a possible deal.

SUNDAY: The Rockies are ready to part ways with Jeremy Guthrie and have informed the rest of the league that the right-hander is available immediately, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com. Count the Blue Jays as one of Guthrie's potential suitors as Toronto has contacted Colorado to discuss the framework of a possible deal, report Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. One trade scenario would have the Jays assuming a major portion of Guthrie's contract as the Rockies would receive only a lower-tier prospect such as Double-A first baseman Mike McDade.

The former Orioles ace has struggled both on and off the mound since arriving in Colorado during the offseason. Known for his propensity to ride his bicycle to the ballpark, Guthrie landed on the disabled list in April when the chain on his bike popped, causing him to fall on his pitching shoulder. After pitching to a 4.12 ERA in five seasons with the O's, Guthrie has been prone to the home run in Denver as he's posted a 6.91 ERA with 4.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 10 starts.

Minggu, 17 Juni 2012

Padres To Sign Zach Eflin

« Minors Moves: Hill, Carlson, Ka'aihue | Main | Rosenthal On Dempster, O's, Jays, Astros, Indians »

The Padres have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin, a team source tells Dan Hayes of the North County Times. The deal includes a $1.2MM signing bonus -- $325K less than the $1.525MM recommended bonus for that slot.

Eflin, a prep pitcher out of Florida, was taken in the supplemental first round of this month's draft, No. 33 overall. The Friars were given that pick as compensation when closer Heath Bell signed with the Marlins.

The deal is pending a physical, Hayes reports. Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA, who first tweeted the signing, notes that Eflin is a hard-thrower and had committed to pitch for the University of Central Florida.

Minors Moves: Hill, Carlson, Ka'aihue

« Mariners Designate Chiang for Assignment | Main | Padres To Sign Zach Eflin »

We'll keep track of today's minor league moves here, with the latest up top..

The Cubs outrighted catcher Koyie Hill to Triple-A Iowa, writes Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com. Hill, who appeared in 11 games with the North Siders this season, was designated for assignment Thursday.
The Red Sox released reliever Jesse Carlson, tweets Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. Carlson, a left-hander, missed most of 2010 and all of 2011 due to a shoulder injury. He signed a split contract with Boston last offseason.
The A's announced that first baseman Kila Ka'aihue cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento. The Hawaiian, acquired from the Royals for Ethan Hollingsworth last September, was designated for assignment by Oakland last week.

Rosenthal On Dempster, O's, Jays, Astros, Indians

« Padres To Sign Zach Eflin | Main

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com has the latest from the rumor mill in a pair of videos, the Rosenthal Report and Full Count. Here's what's going on ...

The Cubs are shopping starter Ryan Dempster to multiple teams, including the Dodgers. Chicago is willing to include significant amounts of cash in any trade in hopes of landing better prospects. Dempster has 10-and-5 rights, however, and thus can veto any deal, although he's willing to move to a contender.
The Orioles are pursuing starting pitching and scouted both Dempster and Matt Garza this week, although the Diamondbacks' Joe Saunders may be a better trade fit for Baltimore.
The Blue Jays are asking around for pitching help, although they may end up sellers before the non-waiver trade deadline.
The Astros are willing to listen on "virtually all of their players." Younger players like Jed Lowrie and third baseman Chris Johnson are all in play, although it would take a huge offer to pry away second baseman Jose Altuve.
The Indians are unlikely to make a move for a DH type like Vladimir Guerrero or Manny Ramirez. Their bigger need is a player who can play left field -- perhaps someone like Carlos Quentin -- but they first need to figure out where they stand with Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore, who are both injured.
The Marlins will have trouble bolstering their weak offense because of a depleted farm system. With Emilion Bonifacio injured, their most obvious need is center field. The Twins' Denard Span and perhaps the Phillies' Shane Victorino are potential targets.
The Angels no longer have room in the starting lineup for the injured Vernon Wells now that Mark Trumbo and Mike Trout have solidified the outfield, and one rival GM thinks Wells could be released when he's ready to return from the disabled list.

Sabtu, 16 Juni 2012

East Notes: Blue Jays, Phillies, Braves, Soler

« Athletics Release Manny Ramirez | Main

Earlier today we learned that Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos asked the Twins about Justin Morneau. However, one exec noted that Anthopoulos seems to "[call] about everyone." Here's more on the Blue Jays and the rest of the division..

Anthopoulos isn't worried about any criticism that may come his way, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet. Even though the GM knows that the club has to show progress on the field, he insists that he won't be swayed by popular opinion and won't rush into making a move.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter) spoke to a scout who didn't have a very high opinion of where the Phillies stand or what they can offer in a trade. 'They're not young. They're not healthy. And their system is thin," the scout said.
The Braves were right there with the Cubs and willing to spend $30MM on Jorge Soler, tweets Peter Gammons of MLB.com. The White Sox and Yankees, meanwhile, had bids that fell between $25MM and $30MM.

Athletics Release Manny Ramirez

« Athletics To Sign Daniel Robertson | Main | East Notes: Blue Jays, Phillies, Braves, Soler »

The Athletics have announced that Manny Ramirez has requested his outright release and the team has granted his request. The veteran recently completed his 50-game suspension and was eligible to join the club on May 30th.

Ramirez, 40, hit .302/.348/.349 for Triple-A Sacramento in 69 plate appearances this year. Just last week, A's GM Billy Beane said that the club hadn't decided whether to release the slugger. Oakland signed Ramirez in February and Beane insisted that the move had everything to do with baseball and nothing to do with PR.

Athletics To Sign Daniel Robertson

« Draft Notes: Brewers, Padres, Nationals, Giolito | Main | Athletics Release Manny Ramirez »

The Athletics have agreed to terms with third baseman Daniel Robertson, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. Robertson's $1.5MM bonus exactly matches the suggested value for the No. 34 pick.

The high schooler was the club's first of two supplemental first-round picks. Callis writes that Robertson has a quality bat with a chance for average to plus power. Yesterday we learned that the A's agreed to pay the full $2.625MM bonus for 11th overall pick Addison Russell.

Jumat, 15 Juni 2012

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Ethier, Hamilton, Quentin

« Quick Hits: Gio, Phillies, Rangers, Burnett | Main

On this date in 2003, Reed Johnson became the fourth player in history to hit a lead-off homer and a walk-off homer in the same game. The then-26-year-old rookie opened the bottom of the first with a solo homer off Shawn Estes and ended the game by opening the bottom of the tenth with a solo homer off Mark Guthrie. Here's the latest from around the web...

Redbird Rants interviewed Cardinals top prospect Shelby Miller.
Seedlings to Stars interviewed Patrick Wisdom, the 52nd overall pick in the draft.
Infield Shift interviewed Braves prospect J.R. Graham.
SF Giants Rumors spoke to Baseball America's Jim Callis about the Giants' draft class.
Baseball Time in Arlington wrote about Andre Ethier's extension and Josh Hamilton.
River Ave. Blues wrote about Ethier's deal and its impact on the Yankees.
Prospect Insider mused about a potential Jason Vargas extension.
AL Eastbound & Down wrote about a potential Edwin Encarnacion trade.
BoSox Injection says it's time for the Red Sox to trade Kevin Youkilis.
MLB Prospect Watch wrote about the Tigers and Carlos Quentin.
Meanwhile, MLB Reports thinks the Padres should trade Quentin.
Dr. Strangeglove likes the idea of the Pirates pursuing Chase Headley.
Obstructed View broke down Alfonso Soriano's trade value.
Nolan Writin' says the Rangers don't need to add a starting pitcher.
Lasorda's Lair thinks the Dodgers need a bat more than Ryan Dempster.
Feeling Dodger Blue lists some potential trade targets for the Dodgers.
Warehouse Worthy wonders if the Orioles should be buyers at the deadline.
Crashburn Alley explains why the Phillies need to sell now.
Kings of Kauffman wrote about Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, and Super Two status.
Talkin' Sox with Dan thinks the Red Sox need Ryan Kalish.
Cleveland Indians Perspective analyzed the Indians' draft haul.
South Side Showdown looked at White Sox GM Kenny Williams' draft history.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

Los Angeles Notes: Ethier, Haren, Draft Signings

« Cardinals Sign Michael Wacha | Main | Quick Hits: Gio, Phillies, Rangers, Burnett »

Here's the latest from the City of Angels (and Dodgers)...

Andre Ethier would've gotten more than a five-year, $85MM deal as a free agent, opines Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports in his latest Hot Corner video. Rosenthal noted that even in a crowded market for outfielders, Ethier's numbers were better than every other potential free agent outfielder (except Josh Hamilton) and Ethier could've found a contract akin to Jayson Werth's seven-year, $126MM deal with the Nationals. Still, Rosenthal calls Ethier's extension good for both sides, as Ethier enjoys playing for the Dodgers and the team gets to keep a big bat at a relative bargain price.
Angels GM Jerry Dipoto talks to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times about the trade that brought Dan Haren to Anaheim, a deal that Dipoto swung from the other side while acting as the Diamondbacks' interim general manager.
The Angels announced they have agreed to terms with 14 draft picks, with fourth-rounder Alex Yarbrough named as the highest-selected of the signees. The Halos have reached deals with 25 of 38 draft picks thus far. The Angels didn't make a selection until the third round, as they lost their first and second-round picks as compensation for signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson last offseason.